# February Mini-Rants. Look on the bright side - it's the shortest month of the year **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2022, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742 "2022-02-01T12:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/21 "2022-02-04T18:44:41Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > I have to have a cpap to sleep so i have to have electricity. Are there CPAPs out there with battery backup? I have a friend whose power went out and he’s so psychologically tied to “CPAP=sleeping”, that he could NOT get to sleep and finally just sat up all night reading by camping lantern. eta: Oh, travel CPAPs! They’re pricey, but they run on batteries. Small, so no room for a water reservoir; you might wake up with a dry throat and nasal cavities. But that beats not enough oxygen. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/22 "2022-02-04T19:07:58Z")
I have a travel one on order and yes they are quite expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/23 "2022-02-04T19:45:05Z")
Be careful leaving taps on when you are not at home. Back in college I shared a house with three other guys. The pipes would regularly freeze up whenever it got cold. Two of us were away on Christmas break when it happened again. One roommate was working all day and the other was at his parents’ house all day for Christmas. I don’t remember which one left the bathroom faucet wide open and which one came home to find the water running and the sink overflowing, but it was a huge mess. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/24 "2022-02-04T19:59:02Z")
Well, they weren’t wide open, just a little more than a drip. However I think one sink overflowing would be easier to deal with than frozen pipes that are hard to access. I have no other way to stop or delay the freezing. Overflowing sink requires a wet vac to pull up the excess. Frozen pipes can burst and flood the whole house. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/25 "2022-02-04T20:02:44Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > Frozen pipes can burst and flood the whole house. You might want to purchase some antifreeze made to winterize travel trailers, and then look up instructions for winterizing same. If you have a trap below another sink, you don’t want that to freeze either - although you’d only find out when you use that sink later. Also see the following article: > **[Here’s How To Make Sure Your Toilet Doesn’t Explode](https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/heres-how-to-make-sure-your-toilet-doesnt-explode/)** > > Yes, it CAN happen in extremely cold conditions! Here's how to avoid a tank-exploding episode in the future. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/26 "2022-02-04T20:03:01Z")
I feel that it will get warm sooner because February is a short month, never thinking the temperature doesn’t care what the calendar says ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/27 "2022-02-04T21:13:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Are there CPAPs out there with battery backup? I have a friend whose power went out and he’s so psychologically tied to “CPAP=sleeping”, that he could NOT get to sleep and finally just sat up all night reading by camping lantern. You can potentially just get a battery backup that can be used for any item. You’ll need to make sure that the battery is powerful enough to power the CPAP all night, and the stronger the battery, the bigger and heavier it is, and more expensive it is. [https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Flashfish-45000mAh-Portable-Emergency/dp/B07SG4QG47](https://www.amazon.com/Generator-Flashfish-45000mAh-Portable-Emergency/dp/B07SG4QG47) That’s something I’d consider. This particular device advertises that it will work with CPAP devices, so it or something like it might help. Some of the reviews for the device claim it won’t keep a CPAP on all night, though, so fair warning. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/28 "2022-02-06T02:35:51Z")
When I woke up this morning it was cold. Really cold. Within a few minutes I figured out that the furnace isn’t working. Fantastic given today’s high temp was 21F and it’s supposed to be -1 later tonight. I left a message for a furnace repair place with good reviews that’s supposed to be open weekends 7ish hours ago. Haven’t heard back. FFS. Tomorrow I’ll try someone else. Last year (well, December 2020), when a tree smooshed my car, I didn’t ever hear back from the first tree company I contacted then, either. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/29 "2022-02-07T16:19:11Z")
You need to find a regular service person. I’ve had the same guy for almost 30 years (and dread the time when he decides to retire). He comes out to check the A/C in the spring and the furnace in the fall, and also does emergency service when needed. When our old outside heat pump gave up the ghost one weekend he spent about an hour outside fixing it in the wee hours of a Sunday morning during a blizzard, while I held the work light so he could see what he was doing and he cracked bad jokes. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/30 "2022-02-07T16:56:48Z")
Someone else took a look at the furnace yesterday morning. They had to order the part, though, and I don’t know how long that will take. Pipes froze overnight Saturday for the first time ever, despite temperatures here occasionally being 40 degrees lower than Satuday’s, and on top of that I didn’t realize when the shelf I made under the aquarium collapsed last week the heater came unplugged, and it looks like two of my tropical fish didn’t make it. I feel like a bad adult. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/31 "2022-02-07T21:37:15Z")
My cat has been sneezing for the past 4 days. No, I don’t think it’s COVID, but I’ve never seen her sneeze 4 times in a row before consistently. Short of an expensive vet trip, is there anything that a pet owner can do when their cat has a cold (beyond just being as nice as possible to them)? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/32 "2022-02-07T23:50:19Z")
IME cats are pretty sensible when they’re mildly sick: they find somewhere quiet/soft/dark/warm and sleep even more than the usual 14 hours a day. Maybe add an extra water dish close by their chosen location? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/33 "2022-02-08T15:14:09Z")
Be of good cheer, there are only three weeks of (meteorological) winter left. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/34 "2022-02-08T15:28:20Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > IME cats are pretty sensible when they’re mildly sick: they find somewhere quiet/soft/dark/warm and sleep even more than the usual 14 hours a day. Maybe add an extra water dish close by their chosen location? Thank You! She is lots better today ( and she was drinking one and a half water dishes a day). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/35 "2022-02-08T15:29:10Z")
^I needed to hear that. Walking from my car this morning I slipped on the ice and fell. Every damned winter I fall at least once and I hadn’t yet this winter. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/36 "2022-02-08T15:44:12Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > Thank You! She is lots better today ( and she was drinking one and a half water dishes a day). glad to hear it! Cats can be like people, you know, feel a little thirsty but think, Naw, I’m not thirsty enough to get up and go to the kitchen or whatever. Always give someone with a cold or flu a water bottle right beside the bed so they stay hydrated. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/37 "2022-02-08T15:48:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > ^I needed to hear that. Walking from my car this morning I slipped on the ice and fell. Every damned winter I fall at least once and I hadn’t yet this winter. I’m sorry. Please feel better! It’s slippery out, even when you don’t think it is. The temperature goes up and the first thing we remember that we forgot: mud is slippery too. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/38 "2022-02-08T16:28:22Z")
Well, I’m sure this will have it’s own thread soon enough: Putin just passed “The Point of No Return” on the invasion of Ukraine. ( It’s on, people…) > **[6 Russian Warships And Submarine Now Entering Black Sea Towards Ukraine -...](https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/02/6-russian-warships-and-submarine-now-entering-black-sea-towards-ukraine/)** > > Russia's military build-up around Ukraine is moving into a new phase. Emerging from under a veil of 'drills', 6 landing ships and a submarine are now sailing into the Black Sea. This brings them ever closer to potential operations in Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/39 "2022-02-08T16:41:51Z")
OMFG. How close are we coming to WWIII? (Yes, I’ve developed even worse anxiety than I had pre-September 2019, thanks.) ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/40 "2022-02-08T17:15:18Z")
Maybe Putin was emboldened by how successful his dupes were in Ottawa the past few days ( and in DC back on January 6th )…? > **[Imgflip](https://imgflip.com/i/64fmv1)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742.md?page=3)